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Outspoken ESPN star Stephen A. Smith took a clear stand in the ongoing debate over the participation of transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s sports.
“Biological men shouldn’t be competing against biological girls in sports, period,” Smith said during an appearance on “Real Time with Bill Maher” after the Olympics’ policy on transgender women was mentioned.
“What about protecting the young ladies? Young ladies going up against biological men – biological men – there’s no excuse for that.”
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Stephen A. Smith joined Bill Maher on the March 27 episode of “Real Time” to discuss politics and who could potentially lead both parties going forward. (Real Time with Bill Maher/YouTube)
Smith then mentioned former University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas.
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“Lia Thomas, for example, was a male and he was ranked over 400th in the world. … And then he became a female. … And No. 1. Well … does it really take an Einstein to realize that there is something wrong with that picture?”
Sadie Schreiner puts a transgender flag in her hair before going to the podium after finishing third in the finals of the 200 meters at the 2024 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium on May 25, 2024 in Myrtle Beach, SC (Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Smith has previously spoken about her views on transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s sports, including during a February 2025 Radio Row interview ahead of that year’s Super Bowl.
“So, that’s the way I look at it. LGBTQ rights and all that, I fully support that, but when transgender athletes — men — transition to women and they compete in women’s sports, it’s a different animal to me,” he said.
“It’s not just about LGBTQ rights. It’s about preying on the rights of women out there everywhere who are born women and they’re at a distinct disadvantage.”
Stephen A. Smith (Perry Knotts/Getty Images)
Those comments from Smith appeared around the same time in 2025 that President Donald Trump signed the “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” law, which directed federal agencies to interpret Title IX based on biological sex at birth.
The NCAA complied with Trump’s executive order and changed its policy.
